Dalits worshipped by upper castes here
April 10, 2011
By S.V. Krishna Chaitanya
DC
Chamarajanagar
Social reformers may have gone unheard but the fear of a curse has
dramatically changed the lives of Dalits in a few villages here.
In a reversal of their fortunes, it is they who are treated like Gods
and even worshipped by the people of the upper castes instead of being
shunned by them as is the usual practice.
The custom dates back a 1,000 years and has a legend attached to it.
It is said that when two followers of Basava visited Ganaganuru
village to spread his philosophy of social equality, they were abused
by the upper caste people and in retaliation they cursed anyone who
practiced untouchability, saying their lives would be destroyed.
The village lore goes that from then on Brahmins have found the going
tough in these parts. So afraid are the upper castes now of the curse
that Dalits of Ganaganuru, Hallikerehundi, Ganaganurupura,
Godhanahundi and Sothanahundi villages are practically treated like
Gods.
This is most apparent in the days after Ugadi when two Dalits go on a
padayatra to Hallikerehundi and Ganaganurupura in a grand procession
while the people from the upper castes perform a pooja to them and
invite them into their homes to seek their blessings.
Temples too have been constructed in these villages in the names of
Bajamma, Kembavibogeshwara, Gangadeshwara and Dodamma - all members of
a Dalit family and Basava followers.
The procession of the Dalit "Gods" was taken out on April 6 and 7 this
year and the villagers plan to follow it up with a grand festivial on
April 12 and 13 which will see Dalits rubbing shoulders with the upper
castes. Hundreds of goats and chicken will be scarified on the
occasion.
------------------------------------
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment